Bill C-215 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine)

This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.

Sponsor

Jacques Gourde Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Dead, as of March 29, 2023
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Employment Insurance Act to increase from 15 to 52 the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid because of illness, injury or quarantine.

Similar bills

C-265 (43rd Parliament, 2nd session) Émilie Sansfaçon Act

C-242 (43rd Parliament, 2nd session) An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine)

C-242 (43rd Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine)

C-217 (43rd Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine)

C-278 (39th Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (benefits for illness, injury or quarantine)

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-215s:

C-215 (2020) Climate Change Accountability Act

C-215 (2016) Support for Volunteer Firefighters Act

C-215 (2011) An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act (deletion of deduction from annuity)

Votes

June 15, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-215, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-215 proposes an amendment to the Employment Insurance Act, increasing the maximum duration of EI sickness benefits from the current 15 weeks to 52 weeks. Supporters argue that this extension is necessary to provide adequate financial support for individuals recovering from serious illnesses, while opponents express concerns about the potential costs and impacts on labor market participation. The bill aims to provide a more comprehensive safety net for vulnerable workers and ensure they have sufficient time to recover without facing financial hardship.

Conservative

Increase EI sickness benefits: The Conservative party supports increasing the number of weeks for employment insurance sickness benefits from 15 to 52 weeks. This will provide financial security for Canadians recovering from serious illnesses such as cancer.
Bill is affordable: The Conservatives cite the Parliamentary Budget Officer's study that the bill is affordable and the cost shared by Canadians and Canadian employers is reasonable, costing approximately $1.6 billion a year, but potentially less.
Addresses a gap: Many Canadians do not have adequate income protection insurance and are left vulnerable when their EI sickness benefits end. This bill attempts to fix this.
Compassionate measure: The Conservatives argue that extending EI sickness benefits is a compassionate measure that aligns with their values, as it would significantly reduce financial stress for individuals and families dealing with serious illnesses. They urge the Liberal government to support the bill and provide the necessary royal recommendation.

NDP

Supports the bill: The NDP supports Bill C-215, believing there is a need to move forward with this bill to support those who are sick and need help, and to ensure that the social safety net is effective and useful.
26 weeks is not enough: The NDP believes that increasing sickness benefits to only 26 weeks is insufficient to meet the needs of the majority of people who are sick, especially considering recovery times and the prevalence of long-haul diseases like COVID-19.
Need for EI reform: The NDP emphasizes the need for major reforms to the EI system, which is currently broken and excludes many workers, including seasonal workers and those in the gig economy, from accessing benefits.
Benefits for employers: The NDP contends that extending sickness benefits can benefit employers by allowing them to train replacement workers and maintain productivity, particularly in sectors facing labor shortages.

Bloc

Strong support for increased benefits: The Bloc Québécois strongly supports increasing EI sickness benefits to 52 weeks, viewing it as a matter of compassion and justice for workers who have contributed to the system. They emphasize the need for benefits tailored to various illnesses, acknowledging that the current 15 weeks is insufficient for many serious conditions, and also point to existing support for a longer term of benefits in the House.
Criticism of government inaction: Bloc members express disappointment and frustration that the government has not yet addressed this issue despite years of debate and multiple bills. They criticize the government's half-measure of increasing benefits to only 26 weeks and accuse the government of delaying the implementation of even that partial increase. The Bloc sees this as a waste of time and a failure to support vulnerable workers.
Financial feasibility emphasized: The Bloc emphasizes that increasing EI sickness benefits is financially feasible. They point to the Parliamentary Budget Officer's study, which indicates that a small increase in contributions would provide significant financial help to thousands of sick workers. The money in the EI fund belongs to the workers and employers who contribute, and the government has a responsibility to ensure that the fund adequately supports those in need.
Call for compassion and action: The Bloc appeals to the government's compassion and humanity, urging them to allow workers to recover with dignity. They share stories of people facing financial hardship due to insufficient benefits and argue that extending the benefit period is a matter of justice and fairness. The Bloc believes that the government should act quickly to pass the bill and provide the necessary support to sick workers.

Liberal

Opposes bill C-215: The Liberal Party opposes Bill C-215, which proposes extending EI sickness benefits from 15 to 52 weeks, because it would incur significant costs (over $2 billion per year) and could negatively impact labor-market attachment and employer-provided sickness benefit coverage.
Supports EI reform: The Liberal Party recognizes the need to modernize the EI program to reflect the evolving nature of work and address inadequacies exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently undergoing a two-year consultation to improve access and inclusivity.
Supports increasing to 26 weeks: The Liberal Party has already taken action to extend EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks, which will be implemented this summer, to provide Canadians with more time and flexibility to recover from illness, while maintaining a balance with other available support systems.
Open to further debate: While not committing to supporting the bill at second reading, the Liberal Party is open to further debate and considering specific cases, such as cancer or severe illnesses, where more weeks of benefits may be necessary, especially for those without access to private or employer-provided insurance.

Was this summary helpful and accurate?

(The House resumed at 12 p.m.)

The House resumed from June 13 consideration of the motion that Bill C-215, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:20 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-215 under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #153

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:30 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:30 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

We have a point of order from the hon. member for Brampton North.

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON

Mr. Speaker, the member for Bay of Quinte voted from his assigned seat in the House and then moved to another seat in the chamber before the completion and tally of the vote.

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:30 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I want to remind hon. members that under the present rules, they must remain in the seat they have chosen when they vote. I am afraid that vote will have to be struck.

We have a point of order from the hon. member for Bay of Quinte.

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON

Mr. Speaker, I inadvertently left. I am going to ask for unanimous consent to allow my vote to stand. I did not mean to do that. It was a rookie mistake.

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:30 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

All those opposed to the hon. member's proposal will please say nay.

Employment Insurance ActPrivate Members' Business

June 15th, 2022 / 4:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.